Presentation of insulin and insulin A chain peptides to mouse T cells: involvement of cysteine residues.

The requirements for insulin presentation and recognition by A alpha b A beta b- and A alpha b A beta k-restricted mouse T cells were studied using a variety of derivatives of the insulin A chain. It was found that A chain peptides with irreversibly blocked Cys residues are non-stimulatory for the T cells. This suggests that at least one of the Cys residues is essential for recognition. On the other hand, all A chain peptides containing Cys residues modified in a way reversible by reaction with thiols are stimulatory yet differ in antigenic potency. All these A chain derivatives including a 14 amino acid fragment require uptake by antigen presenting cells (APC) for efficient presentation. Differences in stimulatory potency between the A chain peptides derived from the same insulin appear to be mainly due to the efficiency of uptake and/or processing by APC. Based on these findings we propose that processing in the case of insulin and its A chain derivatives involves the reductive deblocking of Cys residues or the rearrangement of disulfide bonds apart from a possible proteolytic cleavage. The same may apply to other proteins if Cys residues in the presented peptides are important for the interaction with Ia or the T cell receptor.

The solution structure of a superpotent B-chain-shortened single-replacement insulin analogue.

This paper reports on an insulin analogue with 12.5-fold receptor affinity, the highest increase observed for a single replacement, and on its solution structure, determined by NMR spectroscopy. The analogue is [D-AlaB26]des-(B27-B30)-tetrapeptide-insulin-B26-amide. C-terminal truncation of the B-chain by four (or five) residues is known not to affect the functional properties of insulin, provided the new carboxylate charge is neutralized. As opposed to the dramatic increase in receptor affinity caused by the substitution of D-Ala for the wild-type residue TyrB26 in the truncated molecule, this very substitution reduces it to only 18% of that of the wild-type hormone when the B-chain is present in full length. The insulin molecule in solution is visualized as an ensemble of conformers interrelated by a dynamic equilibrium. The question is whether the "active" conformation of the hormone, sought after in innumerable structure/function studies, is or is not included in the accessible conformational space, so that it could be adopted also in the absence of the receptor. If there were any chance for the active conformation, or at least a predisposed state to be populated to a detectable extent, this chance should be best in the case of a superpotent analogue. This was the motivation for the determination of the three-dimensional structure of [D-AlaB26]des-(B27-B30)-tetrapeptide-insulin-B26-amide. However, neither the NMR data nor CD spectroscopic comparison of a number of related analogues provided a clue concerning structural features predisposing insulin to high receptor affinity. After the present study it seems more likely than before that insulin will adopt its active conformation only when exposed to the force field of the receptor surface.

Hair sulfur amino acid analysis.

This overview emphasizes present aspects of sulfur-containing amino acids in hair. A selection of analytical procedures to determine cystine, cysteine, S-sulfocysteine, cystine oxide, cysteic acid, lanthionine and lysinoalanine are presented. The methods relate to intact hair or partial and total hydrolysates and comprise chromatography, titration, colorimetry, polarography and spectroscopy. For the analysis of cysteine, cystine and cystine oxides, polarography and spectroscopy are the methods of choice. Cysteic acid, lanthionine and lysinoalanine are analysed by means of ion-exchange chromatography (Spackman et al., 1958) after total hydrolysis.

Crosslinked insulins: preparation, properties, and application.

Crosslinked insulins have proved to be valuable for structure-function studies and as proinsulin models. In the first part of the paper, a short review of the literature on analytical investigations, the preparation of A1-B1- and A1-B29-crosslinked derivatives, their biological activities in vivo and in vitro, and CD-spectral properties is given. The results of reduction/reoxidation studies with insulin derivatives containing irreversible and cleavable crosslinks are summarized. In the second part, new A1-B29-crosslinked monomers and 3 symmetrical dimers, linked between A1-A'1, B1-B'1 and B29-B'29, are described, as well as some results of tritium-labelling and of enzymatic degradation experiments with A1-B29-linked insulins.

[B-chain shortening of matrix-bound insulin by pepsin, I:Preparation and properties of bovine des-pentapeptide(B26-30) insulin (suthor's transl)]. / B-Kettenverkürzung von polymergebundenem Insulin mit Pepsin, I. Darstellung und Eigenschaften von Des-Pentapeptid (B26-30)-Rinderinsulin.

Insulin was adsorbed to a strongly acidic ion exchanger and incubated with pepsin. The digestion of the matrix-bound insulin was found to be restricted to the cleavage of the peptide bond between phenylalanine-B25 and tyrosine-B26. Factionation of the reaction products was achieved by gel filtrationon Sephadex G-50 at pH 8 where des-pentapeptide(B26-30)-insulin does not aggregate. Another way to purify this compound was ion-exchange chromatography, which was easy due to the loss of one positive charge on the modified insulin. Crystallization could be achieved in a phenol-containing buffer. Des-pentapeptide(B26-30)-insulin was found to be molecularly uniform by electrophoresis at pH 2.2 and 8.6, thin-layer chromatography, performic acid oxidation, end group analysis and amino acid analysis. The CD-spectrum indicated conformational changes compared to insulin. The biological activity was considerably reduced: fat cell assay 20%, blood sugar depression 30%.

[Improved preparation of des-alanylB30-insulin (author's transl)]. / Verbesserte Darstellung von Des-alanylB30-insulin.

Des-AlaB30-insulin was prepared by incubation of insulin with carboxypeptidase A. The C-terminal alanineB30 of the B-chain was quantitatively liberated without liberating asparagineA21 of the A-chain in ammonium hydrogencarbonate buffer.

[A21-Asparaginimide] insulin. Saponification of insulin hexamethyl ester, I.

[Asn A21]Insulin is formed as the main product during alkaline saponification of insulin hexamethyl ester. Purification was achieved by gel chromatography followed by ion-exchange chromatography on carboxymethyl cellulose at pH 4 or by preparative isoelectric focusing in a granulated gel over a narrow pH range. Two main products could be isolated. One of them showed the electrophoretic behaviour of insulin (A), whilst the other corresponded to insulin with a blocked carboxyl function (B). Incubation of this product B with carboxypeptidase A liberated only the C-terminal alanine of the B-chain, but not the asparagine of the C-terminus of the A-chain. Chymotryptic digestion of the isolated S-sulfonate A-chain derivative (C) followed by high-voltage electrophoresis confirmed that the carboxyl function of asparagine A21 was blocked. In order to determine the free carboxyl functions of the A-chain derivative C, it was coupled with glycine methyl ester yielding D. Amino acid analysis of the chymotryptic peptides of D showed that the carboxyl functions of glutamic acid A4 and A17 had been free prior to coupling. The amino acid analysis of the enzymatic hydrolysate (subtilisin, aminopeptidase M) of the A-chain derivative C showed an additional peak with an elution position identical to the model compound aminosuccinimide. The biological activity of the [Asm A21[insulin was found to be about 40% in the fat cell test and 13.2 units/mg measured by the mouse convulsion method.

Semisynthesis of human proinsulin, I. Preparation of arginyl-A-chain cyclic bis-disulfide.

The semisynthesis of Arg-A-(SS)2 is described by the following chemical and enzymatic procedures: 1) A-(SSO theta 3)4 was acylated with arginine N-carboxyanhydride by the known method. Arg-A-(SSO theta 3)4 was purified, reduced and oxidized to Arg-A(SS)2. When A(SS)2 was acylated under identical conditions a gel-like product was obtained which could be purified after oxidative sulfitolysis. This was then converted to Arg-A-(SS)2 as described above. Both the pathways gave the desired product in 20-25% yield. 2) Boc-Orn(Msc) was quantitatively attached to A-(SS)2 by the mixed anhydride method, the Msc group was then removed and the ensuing N delta-free amino function was amidinated. Traces of unconverted Orn derivative (less than 6%) were still present. 3) Boc-Arg(HBr) was attached to A-(SS)2 by the mixed anhydride method and Arg-A(SS)2 was isolated after removal of the Boc group in 25% yield. 4) Boc-Arg(DHCH) was attached to A-(SS)2 by the mixed anhydride method. DHCH and Boc groups were removed in two steps and Arg-A-(SS)2 was isolated in 29% yield. 5) Boc-Arg was condensed with A-(SS)2 by trypsin-catalyzed synthesis. The removal of Boc group and purification yielded the desired product in 40-42% yield. This procedure was the most efficient and proceeded stereospecifically.

Preparation and properties of citraconylinsulins.

Acylation of insulin with citraconic anhydride was studied at different pH values. The controlled acylation at pH 8.5 and 7 yielded mainly A1-citraconylinsulin (41%) and A1,B1-dicitraconylinsulin (39%), respectively. Acylation with excess reagent at pH 5.6, followed by partial deblocking at pH 5 for 30 min and 17 h, led mainly to A1,B1-dicitraconylinsulin (51%) and B1-citraconylinsulin (40%), respectively. The order of the deblocking rates for the three citraconyl groups at pH 3.5 and 5 was B29 much greater than A1 greater than B1. The biological activity of citraconyl derivatives: A1-citraconyl, B1-citraconyl and A1,B1-dicitraconylinsulin were found to be 15%, 100% and 15% (in vitro fat cell assay) and 46%, 78% and 48% (in mouse convulsion assay), respectively. In a double insulin immunoassay these derivatives had 40%, 75% and 30% immunoreactivity, respectively.

Reduction of S-sulpho groups by tributylphosphine: an improved method for the recombination of insulin chains.

All 4 S-sulpho groups of the S-sulpho substituted insulin A-chain could be removed with 4 mol of tributylphosphine. Reduction of a 1:1 mixture of both S-sulpho insulin chains with tributylphosphine followed by air oxidation gave insulin which was isolated in pure form and high yield. Removal of excess reducing agent was not necessary, in contrast to the usual procedures employing thiols for the reduction step. This constitutes a rapid and simple method for the generation of insulin from its chains. A new method for the purification of S-sulpho-A-chain has been developed.

Enzyme-assisted semisynthesis of shortened B26-modified insulins.

The role of the invariant residue B26-tyrosine in determining the structural and biological properties of insulin has been extensively investigated by the use of semisynthetic des-(B27-B30)-insulins with modifications of position B26. Apart from the conventional trypsin-catalyzed peptide bond formation between the C-terminal amino acid ArgB22 of des-(B23-B30)-insulin and synthetic tetrapeptides we elaborated a new approach using des-(B26-B30)-insulin as substrate in alpha-chymotrypsin-mediated syntheses. Results obtained from bioassays and CD-spectroscopy underline the importance of position B26 to the association of the native molecule and to the modulation of structural and hormonal properties of shortened insulins.

Use of Z-amino acid-glyceryl esters in protease catalyzed peptide synthesis.

The alpha-glyceryl esters of Z-Gly, Z-Phe and Z-Tyr were synthesized and their use for protease catalyzed peptide synthesis was studied. Three enzymes isolated from crude papain were compared in their catalytic potency. Syntheses with alpha-chymotrypsin were performed in a biphasic system.

Preparation and application of Nalpha-B1,Nepsilon-B29-bis (ter.-butyloxycarbonyl)insulin.

Two methods are described for the preparation of NalphaB1,Nepsilon29-Boc2-insulin from Nalpha A1-trifluoroacetyl-insulin and Nalpha A1-citraconyl-insulin in 80 - 90% and 65% yields, respectively. Removal of the Boc protections afforded the fully active insulin. Application of this derivative was demonstrated by the preparations of des-GlyA1-insulin and [A1-guanidinoacetyl]insulin. The former compount exhibited 2% activity in the in vitro free fat cell assay and the latter 88 +/- 5% while NalphaB1-NepsilonB29-Boc2-insulin showed 45 +/- 3% activity only.

[LeuB24]- and [LeuB25]insulins are not antagonists of lipogenesis in adipocytes.

Semisynthetic human [LeuB24]-and [LeuB25]insulins were investigated to determine whether they show antagonistic properties towards insulin-stimulated lipogenesis in isolated fat cells. In contrast to other reports, we could detect only an additive agonistic effect when constant concentrations (e.g. 0.3 ng/ml) of the analogues were mixed with varying concentrations of insulin, or when constant concentrations (e.g. 0.3 ng/ml, 0.6 ng/ml) of insulin were mixed with varying concentrations of the analogues. Similar results were obtained with mixtures of insulin and NA2-acetyl- or NA2-propionyl-des-GlyA1-insulins. These results do not support the contention that a diabetic state could be caused by either of these mutant human insulins.

Structure-function relationships of des-(B26-B30)-insulin.

In order to study the role of the amino acid in position B25 and its environment in shortened insulins, a series of analogues was prepared with the following modifications: 1, Stepwise shortening of the B-chain including replacements of TyrB26 and ThrB27 by glycine; 2, substitutions at the carboxamide nitrogen of des-(B26-B30)-insulin-B25-amide by apolar, polar or charged residues of various chain lengths; 3, replacement of PheB25 by asparagine-amide, phenylalaninol or a series of alkyl and aralkyl residues. Trypsin-catalyzed semisyntheses were performed with Boc-protected or unprotected des-octapeptide-(B23-B30)-insulin and synthetic peptides. Relative receptor binding and in vitro bioactivity of [AsnB25]-des-(B26-B30)-insulin-B25-amide was 227 and 292% (on insulin), other activities ranged between 1 and ca. 200%. We make the following conclusions. An L-amino acid is essential in position B25. The B25-carbonyl and NH groups favour high binding and "superpotency", but are not indispensible for receptor contacts. For high affinity receptor interaction, the planarity at the C gamma-atom and the distance of B25-side-chain branching in position B25 are important, but an aromatic ring is not necessary.

An insulin with the native sequence but virtually no activity.

The B24-B25 peptide bond of insulin was replaced by an ester bond. To our knowledge this is the first replacement of a main chain atom reported for the hormone. It is meant to eliminate a structurally important H-bond between the imino group of B25 and the carbonyl oxygen of A19, and consequently to enhance detachment of the C-terminal B chain from the underlying A chain. On the basis of independent experimental evidence this very conformational change is believed to be a prerequisite for receptor binding. It was thus anticipated that increased flexibility would increase receptor binding and activity. Intriguingly, porcine [B24-B25 CO-O]insulin (depsi-insulin) and likewise [B24-B25 CO-O]des-(B26-B30)insulin-B25-amide (depsi-DPI-amide) were found to be only 3-4% potent.

Preparation of partially protected des-alanineB30-insulin-B-chain-disulphide and its use in semisynthesis.

The preparation of N alpha 1 N epsilon 29-bis-methylsulphonylethyloxycarbonyl-des-alanineB30-B-chain-disulphide-O gamma 13 O gamma 21-dimethyl ester is described. Starting with the di-S-sulphonate-B-chain it was prepared by i) removal of the C-terminal amino acid by digestion with carboxypeptidase A, ii) reduction and oxidation to form the cyclic disulphide, iii) esterification of the three carboxyl groups (alpha COOH = LysB29, gamma COOH - GluB13 and GluB21) followed by selective tryptic hydrolysis of the alpha-carboxyl ester, and iv) the protection of both amino groups (alpha NH2 = PheB1, epsilon NH2 = LysB29). This B-chain derivative was activated selectively at the C-terminal carboxyl group by formation of a mixed anhydride, and condensed with the dipeptide Thr-Arg. All protecting groups were removed by treatment with alkali. The human-B-chain C-terminal elongated with Arg was obtained in a yield of 30% based on the protected des-AlaB30-B-chain derivative.

[Increased yields of insulin by recycling of non-combined insulin chains]. / Erhöhte Insulinausbeuten durch "Recycling" der nichtkombinierten Ketten.

The yield of insulin by the combination of reduced A and B chains is increased from 15% to 33-34% if the non-insulin-containing fractions of the gel filtration are isolated and used for further combinations (recycling). Crude insulin recovered by gel filtration can be highly purified by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. Lower yields of insulin were obtained on recombination of chains which had been recycled five times or more. Sulfur analyses show a loss of cystine sulfur. The occurrance of lanthionine and lysinoalanine indicates an alkaline destruction of cystine/cysteine during the repeated combination steps.

[Semisynthetic sheep des-A1-glycine insulin (author's transl)]. / Semisynthetisches Des-A1-glycin-Schafinsulin

The synthetic Des-1-glycine-A-chain of sheep insulin as the monomeric cyclic bisdisulfide and native bovine B-chain bissulfonate were reduced together with mercaptoethanol. They combined at pH 10.6 to yield Des-A1-glycine-insulin. This was purified by gel and ion exchange chromatography. The low insulin activity (0.4 - 0.6%) as measured by the fat cell test as well as the change in the CD spectrum indicated that the loss of the N-terminal glycine of the A-chain results in fully inactive insulin. This confirms the results obtained earlier by partial synthesis of Des-A1-glycine-insulin.